Tonight's pick to click (you at home select yours):
-Reaper. This is a show that is check-out worthy. It's a dramedy (yes, it's a term we haven't used since the Molly Dodd days) about a big-box employee who works for the Devil. Literally. You can read more in Maureen Ryan's review of the show here. Should be a hoot.
Meanwhile, the pick to skip is Cane. It's a new drama about the sugar industry. Yep, the sugar industry. In other words, it's Dallas with sugar instead of oil. While the program has a mostly Latino cast, Resurrection Blvd. it's not.
Cane, you can put it on the board, no!
Last night's results- click here for the household ratings and adult 18-49 numbers (when they are available)
- Chuck (which whored out to KISS-FM for a day) and The Big Bang Theory got off to a good start in adults 18-49, with Chuck's ratings increasing in the second half-hour.
- Dancing With the Stars dominates yet again, number one show for the evening.
- Journeyman's journey may be short.
- The Bachelor really needs to go away like a bad toothache. It lost half of Dancing's lead-in.
- Fox's Prison Break and K-Ville took at hit, with K-Ville dropping 30 percent week-to-week in 18-49's.
- Heroes' season premiere was up from last year's debut (up 10%), but last night's episode was somewhat disjointed. Did Rex Grossman join the writing staff, or something?
Side note: While Dancing With the Stars won easily among women 25-54 (10.3/23), Heroes also scored among men 18-34 with a 7.8/20, while Dancing managed only a 2.5/6 in that demo. Only more proof that us guys hate sissy shows like Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor. Go Heroes!
updated 10:28 pm
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Picks to click: Three new shows debut tonight
Check out Chuck and The Big Bang Theory, both of which got mixed reviews. They are my picks to click for tonight (you at home select yours), as well as Heroes. On the other hand, skip Journeyman, as there have been many time-travel shows on the tube over the years (Quantam Leap, Time Trax), and this one isn't necessarily better. Journeyman - you can put it on the board, no!
Orlando TV news laden with crime
Orlando Weekly's Jeffrey Billman watches the local news for three weeks in Orlando and comes away with that amazing observation. Of course, if you watched local news anywhere in this country for the last 20 years (particularly in Chicago), it wouldn't surprise - or amaze anyone.
Friday, September 21, 2007
So they covered it after all...
It turns out some media outlets did report on the FCC public hearings that took place last night:
From WBBM-TV: Hundreds Line Up Speak To FCC About Media Rules
From Fox News Chicago (WFLD): FCC Hearing Attracts Hundreds in Chicago
WMAQ-TV also mentioned the hearing last night on its' 10 p.m. newscast.
Meanwhile, Presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama is calling for the FCC to scale back media consolidation and reduce the length of TV station licenses. He's also calling for more diversity in media ownership. An aide to Obama read a statement from him before the meeting.
TV week is reporting that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin met with the Tribune editorial board before the meeting (perhaps that's why he was late?) to discuss the cross-ownership rule. Sam Zell is buying the Tribune Co. and would like to keep the media properties intact.
From WBBM-TV: Hundreds Line Up Speak To FCC About Media Rules
From Fox News Chicago (WFLD): FCC Hearing Attracts Hundreds in Chicago
WMAQ-TV also mentioned the hearing last night on its' 10 p.m. newscast.
Meanwhile, Presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama is calling for the FCC to scale back media consolidation and reduce the length of TV station licenses. He's also calling for more diversity in media ownership. An aide to Obama read a statement from him before the meeting.
TV week is reporting that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin met with the Tribune editorial board before the meeting (perhaps that's why he was late?) to discuss the cross-ownership rule. Sam Zell is buying the Tribune Co. and would like to keep the media properties intact.
New weekend anchor at Channel 2
One could wonder if the announcement yesterday hiring of Mai Martinez as the new weekend anchor of WBBM-TV's weekend newscasts coincided with the FCC hearings on media diversity scheduled on the same day- or the fact that they are broadcasting Saturday's Mexican Independence Parade (don't ask about her qualifications.)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Live blogging the FCC hearings
12:30am It's finally over. Thanks for hanging in with us.
12:05 am A Korean television station (WOCH) is now being talked about.
12:01 am (now 9/21) Just a thought: Where was Mancow? Too busy filing another lawsuit?
11:46pm Did the author of that book just swear? The FCC will fine him personally. That $8 million for you.
11:43pm The corporate shills and charity cases are gone and the real people are back. This hearing is supposed to be for the people, not the corporate hacks. What they do for charity has nothing to do with what we're talking about here. Totally shameful.
10:50pm The complaints are back. We're back on track!
10:44 pm Welcome home, Eric Monte. And what he's telling is the truth.
10:40 pm I like to hear somebody rip Mariotti at this hearing. Where is Ozzie, anyway?
10:32 pm Broadcasting & Cable has a story up right now on Patric Verrone's comments. Plus, B&C's John Eggerton on his blog is writing about how media ownership is getting knocked "for a loop".
10:25pm WGN-AM's John Williams is now speaking (and former "Good Times" writer Eric Monte coming up.)
10:19 Now it's Clear Channel's turn.
10:07 Third speaker in a row for WFLD. What's going on here?
10:04pm Finally! a station other than WGN-TV/AM getting praised (It's WFLD-TV. )
9:58 pm The Rev. Jeanette Wilson gets it... More African-American shows (and not of the clown kind) are needed.
9:55 pm Enough with the praise of WGN! I smell a rat...
9:40 pm Just a thought: Where's Nine FM? They are Mr. local, aren't they? They could've been here flaunting their "localism". Another wasted opportunity by Harv and the boys.
9:35pm Don Jackson of Central City Productions is now speaking, and he's talking about his educational game show, Know Your Heritage getting bounced off ABC-owned WLS-TV and had to pay to get on another station, Fox-owned WPWR-TV (and WPWR just bounced his show out the door.)
9:27pm Don't know the speaker's name, but RIGHT ON BROTHER!!!! And all the FCC cares about is shielding children from bad language, not bullets.
9:21pm Jesse Jackson did make it after all. He was in Louisiana earlier today for a rally for the Jena 6 - the six black students who unjustly went to jail in small-town Jena, La. And Rev. Jackson points out that it was black radio - not the mainstream media (too obsessed with O.J.) that alerted the nation about this travesty.
Among the radio hosts that were down there included Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden.
9:06pm Patric Verrone of WGA west is now speaking, and as a writer myself, he's damn right about writers being forced to integrate products into their scripts (like when employees from the sitcom The Office have to work at Staples for a day) and he's asking the FCC to require the networks to disclose product placement in shows. I hate it when commercialism creeps into the creative process.
9:03 pm Radio and Records has a story up on their website on today's hearing here in Chicago. Commissioner Martin was late?
8:54 pm Nothing to do with the hearings - well, maybe it does - According to All Access, a station in Peoria (WXMP-FM) flipped from Adult Contemporary to a lame syndicated oldies format called "Hippie Radio" today. Three jocks and a few staffers are out of work as a result.
8:43 pm Great speech by Ciff Kelley. He is dead on. Here is the Sun-Times article (the home of "Can you handle more Mariotti?") he was referring to.
8:22pm The second panel is about to be seated. One of the panelists scheduled to participate is WVON host Clifford Kelley.
8:06 pm What is with all these WGN employees taking the mic? Isn't the comments forum supposed to be open to the public? You know, the part of the public who doesn't work for a media outlet?
7:55 pm WGN-AM's Orion Samuelson has spoke, and he's talked about agriculture and the media. Another WGN-AM personality, Kathy O'Malley is now speaking.
7:42pm Just a thought: By the way, where's Mayor Daley? Where's his representative? Is he somewhere playing the race card? (har, har.)
7:40pm The public is now commenting to the FCC, and boy, they are pissed. From police brutality to the Iraq War, they are giving them the FCC an earful. That is, if they can stay awake long enough to listen.
6:44pm Siliva Rivera of WRTE-FM talks about negatively about a mega company targeting the Hispanic community that owns the TV station, the radio station, and the record company. I wonder what company **cough** Univision **cough**, excuse me, what company she's talking about?
6:34pm The owner of one of Chicago's black newspapers - Dorothy Leavell of The Chicago Crusader - What a speech! She rocks!
6:18pm Marv Dyson is speaking. And the crowd gasped when he mentioned that is people with the "me too" attitude is to blame for radio's problems, not consolidation.
6:08pm WREX-TV/Rockford General Manager John Chadwick just spoke. Rockford has a symphony orchestra?
5:45pm: Among the panelists being introduced are (old school) hip-hop artist KRS-One, former WGCI boss Marv Dyson and WVON-AM president Melody Spann Cooper. The panelists will be speaking for five minutes at a time (and KRS-One just called out WGCI! Holy crap!)
5:37 pm: Commissioner Deborah Tate spoke about young people are changing the way media is consumed through the Internet and blogs.
5:32 pm: Jonathan Adelstein, another Democratic commissioner, is speaking. And he is talking about racial stereotypes in the media precipitated by big media corporations, among other things.
5:23 pm: One of the Democratic commissioners of the FCC, Michael Copps, is now speaking, and he's stressing the need for more diversity.
4:38 pm: The FCC hearings being held today will air on public-access channel CAN TV on October 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check your local listings to find the channel number for CAN TV in your area.
12:05 am A Korean television station (WOCH) is now being talked about.
12:01 am (now 9/21) Just a thought: Where was Mancow? Too busy filing another lawsuit?
11:46pm Did the author of that book just swear? The FCC will fine him personally. That $8 million for you.
11:43pm The corporate shills and charity cases are gone and the real people are back. This hearing is supposed to be for the people, not the corporate hacks. What they do for charity has nothing to do with what we're talking about here. Totally shameful.
10:50pm The complaints are back. We're back on track!
10:44 pm Welcome home, Eric Monte. And what he's telling is the truth.
10:40 pm I like to hear somebody rip Mariotti at this hearing. Where is Ozzie, anyway?
10:32 pm Broadcasting & Cable has a story up right now on Patric Verrone's comments. Plus, B&C's John Eggerton on his blog is writing about how media ownership is getting knocked "for a loop".
10:25pm WGN-AM's John Williams is now speaking (and former "Good Times" writer Eric Monte coming up.)
10:19 Now it's Clear Channel's turn.
10:07 Third speaker in a row for WFLD. What's going on here?
10:04pm Finally! a station other than WGN-TV/AM getting praised (It's WFLD-TV. )
9:58 pm The Rev. Jeanette Wilson gets it... More African-American shows (and not of the clown kind) are needed.
9:55 pm Enough with the praise of WGN! I smell a rat...
9:40 pm Just a thought: Where's Nine FM? They are Mr. local, aren't they? They could've been here flaunting their "localism". Another wasted opportunity by Harv and the boys.
9:35pm Don Jackson of Central City Productions is now speaking, and he's talking about his educational game show, Know Your Heritage getting bounced off ABC-owned WLS-TV and had to pay to get on another station, Fox-owned WPWR-TV (and WPWR just bounced his show out the door.)
9:27pm Don't know the speaker's name, but RIGHT ON BROTHER!!!! And all the FCC cares about is shielding children from bad language, not bullets.
9:21pm Jesse Jackson did make it after all. He was in Louisiana earlier today for a rally for the Jena 6 - the six black students who unjustly went to jail in small-town Jena, La. And Rev. Jackson points out that it was black radio - not the mainstream media (too obsessed with O.J.) that alerted the nation about this travesty.
Among the radio hosts that were down there included Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden.
9:06pm Patric Verrone of WGA west is now speaking, and as a writer myself, he's damn right about writers being forced to integrate products into their scripts (like when employees from the sitcom The Office have to work at Staples for a day) and he's asking the FCC to require the networks to disclose product placement in shows. I hate it when commercialism creeps into the creative process.
9:03 pm Radio and Records has a story up on their website on today's hearing here in Chicago. Commissioner Martin was late?
8:54 pm Nothing to do with the hearings - well, maybe it does - According to All Access, a station in Peoria (WXMP-FM) flipped from Adult Contemporary to a lame syndicated oldies format called "Hippie Radio" today. Three jocks and a few staffers are out of work as a result.
8:43 pm Great speech by Ciff Kelley. He is dead on. Here is the Sun-Times article (the home of "Can you handle more Mariotti?") he was referring to.
8:22pm The second panel is about to be seated. One of the panelists scheduled to participate is WVON host Clifford Kelley.
8:06 pm What is with all these WGN employees taking the mic? Isn't the comments forum supposed to be open to the public? You know, the part of the public who doesn't work for a media outlet?
7:55 pm WGN-AM's Orion Samuelson has spoke, and he's talked about agriculture and the media. Another WGN-AM personality, Kathy O'Malley is now speaking.
7:42pm Just a thought: By the way, where's Mayor Daley? Where's his representative? Is he somewhere playing the race card? (har, har.)
7:40pm The public is now commenting to the FCC, and boy, they are pissed. From police brutality to the Iraq War, they are giving them the FCC an earful. That is, if they can stay awake long enough to listen.
6:44pm Siliva Rivera of WRTE-FM talks about negatively about a mega company targeting the Hispanic community that owns the TV station, the radio station, and the record company. I wonder what company **cough** Univision **cough**, excuse me, what company she's talking about?
6:34pm The owner of one of Chicago's black newspapers - Dorothy Leavell of The Chicago Crusader - What a speech! She rocks!
6:18pm Marv Dyson is speaking. And the crowd gasped when he mentioned that is people with the "me too" attitude is to blame for radio's problems, not consolidation.
6:08pm WREX-TV/Rockford General Manager John Chadwick just spoke. Rockford has a symphony orchestra?
5:45pm: Among the panelists being introduced are (old school) hip-hop artist KRS-One, former WGCI boss Marv Dyson and WVON-AM president Melody Spann Cooper. The panelists will be speaking for five minutes at a time (and KRS-One just called out WGCI! Holy crap!)
5:37 pm: Commissioner Deborah Tate spoke about young people are changing the way media is consumed through the Internet and blogs.
5:32 pm: Jonathan Adelstein, another Democratic commissioner, is speaking. And he is talking about racial stereotypes in the media precipitated by big media corporations, among other things.
5:23 pm: One of the Democratic commissioners of the FCC, Michael Copps, is now speaking, and he's stressing the need for more diversity.
4:38 pm: The FCC hearings being held today will air on public-access channel CAN TV on October 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check your local listings to find the channel number for CAN TV in your area.
Kid Nation fianlly airs
And as of this writing, it's still on the air (it actually did well in the ratings). But it was light on the ads. And to no one's surprise, most critics hated the series.
Meanwhile, Back to You and Kitchen Nightmares rocked in their debuts, but Gossip Girl tanked losing from its lead-in and underperforming from year-ago time period levels.
Considering all the promotion Gossip Girl was given by the CW, this performance has to be disappointing (and this was my "pick to click".)
Meanwhile, Back to You and Kitchen Nightmares rocked in their debuts, but Gossip Girl tanked losing from its lead-in and underperforming from year-ago time period levels.
Considering all the promotion Gossip Girl was given by the CW, this performance has to be disappointing (and this was my "pick to click".)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Congress introduces indecency bill
Several Congressmen introduced introduced legislation called the Protection Children from Indecent Programming Act, which "requires the FCC to maintain a policy that a single word or image may be considered indecent in enforcing regulations concerning the broadcast of indecent programming over the public airwaves."
So, where is the anti-gun legislation to protect our children?
No wonder Congress and politicians in general are so despised.
So, where is the anti-gun legislation to protect our children?
No wonder Congress and politicians in general are so despised.
FCC hearings set for Chicago Thursday
Tomorrow's Federal Communications Commission hearing on media ownership at Operation Push is going to be a spectacle, no doubt it. It's an endless debate that will no doubt be exhaustive.
As you know, the FCC has been traveling the country gauging public opinion on media ownership. Chicago will no doubt be the agency's toughest test, since it is home to a lot of activist organizations, from Operation PUSH (the venue where the hearings will be held tomorrow night) to various others like Chicago Media Action.
The FCC can expect an earful from numerous individuals, including media executives, community groups, and public interest groups.
The discussions will focus on consolidation in the media industry, which has happened since the 1996 Telecommunications Act was passed, deregulating the industry and its impact has been felt from local news to diversity to the type of programming that airs on television and radio today, much of it salacious.
The big issue that will be definitely brought up is Sam Zell's acquisition of the Tribune Co., and whether or not its WGN-AM-TV-Chicago Tribune combo should be broken up.
To see what's on the agenda Thursday evening, click here.
-Can't make it Thursday evening? The hearing will also be streamed on the FCC's website; click here to access the audio/video page (you must have RealPlayer to listen to the stream. Don't have RealPlayer? You can download it for free here.)
As you know, the FCC has been traveling the country gauging public opinion on media ownership. Chicago will no doubt be the agency's toughest test, since it is home to a lot of activist organizations, from Operation PUSH (the venue where the hearings will be held tomorrow night) to various others like Chicago Media Action.
The FCC can expect an earful from numerous individuals, including media executives, community groups, and public interest groups.
The discussions will focus on consolidation in the media industry, which has happened since the 1996 Telecommunications Act was passed, deregulating the industry and its impact has been felt from local news to diversity to the type of programming that airs on television and radio today, much of it salacious.
The big issue that will be definitely brought up is Sam Zell's acquisition of the Tribune Co., and whether or not its WGN-AM-TV-Chicago Tribune combo should be broken up.
To see what's on the agenda Thursday evening, click here.
-Can't make it Thursday evening? The hearing will also be streamed on the FCC's website; click here to access the audio/video page (you must have RealPlayer to listen to the stream. Don't have RealPlayer? You can download it for free here.)
More Mariotti = More crap
The Chicago Daily Onion (a.k.a the Sun-Times) is giving so-called sportswriter Jay Mariotti a blog, of sorts, with "Mariotti 24/7", asking us if we can handle more Mariotti.
Of course the answer is no, but the Daily Onion (yours truly has been banned from commenting on their blogs), tries to force junk on their readers that will drive them away. Great business move. The self-destruction of the Sun-Times continues.
Of course the answer is no, but the Daily Onion (yours truly has been banned from commenting on their blogs), tries to force junk on their readers that will drive them away. Great business move. The self-destruction of the Sun-Times continues.
Peachtree TV's new schedule
As noted before, WPCH, or Peachtree TV will premiere on Oct. 1. in Atlanta, replacing WTBS. To see the new schedule, click here (note that the schedule may change.)
WPCH will take over WTBS' dial position over-the-air channel 17 and cable channel 7, while the national feed of TBS will become available for the first time in the Atlanta area on channel 39 on most cable systems, channel 247 on DirectTV, and channel 139 on Dish Network.
Peachtree will also air 45 Atlanta Braves games, beginning in April 2008.
Notable moves:
What's in: Temptation, Family Guy, Fraiser, 24, Mad About You, Nanny, Montel (in 2008), infomericals in late-night hours
What's back (from the old TBS days): America's Funniest Home Videos, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, All in the Family
What's out: Everybody Loves Raymond, Dawson's Creek, Yes Dear, Saved by the Bell
The lowdown: You have Family Guy double-run in access (7-8p), King of Queens on in early fringe (5-6), and Fraiser scattered around several late night time slots on various days (what's up with that?) Popular repeats of Friends and Seinfeld are being run from 6-7 p.m. The station will air movies in prime-time and a lot of them on weekends.
The big surprise: WPCH didn't secure local rights to Everybody Loves Raymond; the show is now broadcast TV exclusive to WATL, at least for now.
What's yours truly would like to see: While this isn't a bad schedule, I think WPCH should add TV classics The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy and/or The Lucy Show, and Perry Mason. These shows were a part of old-school WTBS and all still get solid ratings in syndication.
There's no word on the fate of the station's Saturday morning children's E/I and public affairs programming.
WPCH will take over WTBS' dial position over-the-air channel 17 and cable channel 7, while the national feed of TBS will become available for the first time in the Atlanta area on channel 39 on most cable systems, channel 247 on DirectTV, and channel 139 on Dish Network.
Peachtree will also air 45 Atlanta Braves games, beginning in April 2008.
Notable moves:
What's in: Temptation, Family Guy, Fraiser, 24, Mad About You, Nanny, Montel (in 2008), infomericals in late-night hours
What's back (from the old TBS days): America's Funniest Home Videos, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, All in the Family
What's out: Everybody Loves Raymond, Dawson's Creek, Yes Dear, Saved by the Bell
The lowdown: You have Family Guy double-run in access (7-8p), King of Queens on in early fringe (5-6), and Fraiser scattered around several late night time slots on various days (what's up with that?) Popular repeats of Friends and Seinfeld are being run from 6-7 p.m. The station will air movies in prime-time and a lot of them on weekends.
The big surprise: WPCH didn't secure local rights to Everybody Loves Raymond; the show is now broadcast TV exclusive to WATL, at least for now.
What's yours truly would like to see: While this isn't a bad schedule, I think WPCH should add TV classics The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy and/or The Lucy Show, and Perry Mason. These shows were a part of old-school WTBS and all still get solid ratings in syndication.
There's no word on the fate of the station's Saturday morning children's E/I and public affairs programming.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Small webcasters sign deal with SoundExchange
Twenty-four small webcasters have signed deals with SoundExchange to continue to stream. The agreements to pay royalty fees are in effect until the end of 2010. The rates they will pay basically are the same ones they have been previously been paying, and lower than the rates Copyright Royalty Board set last spring. Ah, the art of negotiation. It works!
Schedule set for Chicago FCC hearings
The hearing is taking place at Operation PUSH in the Kenwood nieghborhood at 930 East 5oth Street, near Washington Park on Thursday. Rev. Jesse Jackson is expected to appear, though he is also expected to appear at a rally in Louisiana earlier in the day.
To download a schedule for the evening's events, you can click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.)
To download a schedule for the evening's events, you can click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.)
First week results in syndication
The first week results for the new programs (and freshman off-network shows) in syndication are in the book:
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Mediaweek
Thoughts:
- Despite bad reviews, TMZ is tops among syndicated rookies and may get an even bigger boost - thanks to the website becoming the first to snare an audio tape featuring O.J. Simpson during a robbery attempt.
- Steve Wilkos is up 10 percent from his lead-in and is flat from year-ago time period rating and shares, which is a good start.
- The national rollout of Morning Show with Mike and Juliet is tied with Steve Wilkos for second place, but since the program is on opposite Regis & Kelly in most markets, it's getting whacked (in Chicago, it has to face Regis & Kelly AND Oprah. Yikes!)
- The two new game shows are still struggling to find an audience.
- Judge David Young is flat all around. Could be better, could be worse.
- Two and a Half Men and Family Guy are both holding their lead-ins, which is a small victory for both shows. Let's see what the national ratings bring.
- With some weak time slots (it's on in overnight hours in New York), George Lopez isn't exactly burning up the charts. But it's holding it's lead-in and year-ago time period rating.
| Program | RTG/SHR | 9/06 TP | Lead-in |
| First- Run: | |||
| TMZ | 1.5/3 | 2.0/4 | 1.8/6 |
| Morning Show- Mk-Jul | 1.1/4 | 1.5/6 | 1.9/7 |
| Steve Wilkos | 1.1/4 | 1.2/3 | 1.0/3 |
| David Young | 0.9/3 | 0.9/3 | 0.9/3 |
| Crosswords | 0.8/2 | 1.3/4 | 1.0/3 |
| Temptation | 0.5/2 | 1.1/3 | 0.6/2 |
| Off-Network | |||
| Two and a Half Men | 2.0/4 | 2.3/4 | 2.0/4 |
| Family Guy | 1.8/4 | 2.0/4 | 1.9/4 |
| George Lopez | 0.9/3 | 0.9/3 | 0.9/3 |
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Mediaweek
Thoughts:
- Despite bad reviews, TMZ is tops among syndicated rookies and may get an even bigger boost - thanks to the website becoming the first to snare an audio tape featuring O.J. Simpson during a robbery attempt.
- Steve Wilkos is up 10 percent from his lead-in and is flat from year-ago time period rating and shares, which is a good start.
- The national rollout of Morning Show with Mike and Juliet is tied with Steve Wilkos for second place, but since the program is on opposite Regis & Kelly in most markets, it's getting whacked (in Chicago, it has to face Regis & Kelly AND Oprah. Yikes!)
- The two new game shows are still struggling to find an audience.
- Judge David Young is flat all around. Could be better, could be worse.
- Two and a Half Men and Family Guy are both holding their lead-ins, which is a small victory for both shows. Let's see what the national ratings bring.
- With some weak time slots (it's on in overnight hours in New York), George Lopez isn't exactly burning up the charts. But it's holding it's lead-in and year-ago time period rating.
Monday, September 17, 2007
WLS-AM drops in the trends
We usually don't report on the trends (the Summer book doesn't come out until October), but this is worth noting - Citadel's talk outlet WLS-AM dropped to fourteenth place with a 2.8 - the lowest rating in more than a decade.
Let's not read too much into this - keep in mind that WLS is still stronger now than it was in the late 1980's, when it was still playing music and was regularly stinking up the joint (it's average share in 1988 was around a 1.3.)
Let's not read too much into this - keep in mind that WLS is still stronger now than it was in the late 1980's, when it was still playing music and was regularly stinking up the joint (it's average share in 1988 was around a 1.3.)
KBIG dumps AC for Adult Hits
In a surprise move, Clear Channel's KBIG-FM in Los Angeles has dumped its longtime Hot Adult Contemporary format for an Adult Hits one, putting them in direct competition with CBS' KCBS-FM (Jack 93.1) and Emmis' KMVN-FM (Movin' 93.9)
Core artists include Beyonce, Christana Aguliera, and John Mayer.
Longtime radio personality Charlie Tuna (who is also a notable voice-over talent) was let go from the station today. He did the morning shift on KBIG.
The station is being re-branded as 104.3 MyFM (not affiliated with My Network TV or Myspace.com, which are both owned by News Corp.)
Core artists include Beyonce, Christana Aguliera, and John Mayer.
Longtime radio personality Charlie Tuna (who is also a notable voice-over talent) was let go from the station today. He did the morning shift on KBIG.
The station is being re-branded as 104.3 MyFM (not affiliated with My Network TV or Myspace.com, which are both owned by News Corp.)
Emmy winners (updated)
30 Rock for Best Comedy (why?), The Sopranos for Best Drama (yawn), and The Daily Show for Best Variety, Music, or Comedy Series (yay!)
The Office also won an Emmy for Best Writing in a Comedy Series, while The Sopranos took home an Emmy for Best Writing in a Drama Series.
HBO led with 21 Emmys, while NBC had 19. The CW did not win any Emmys at all (were they even nominated?)
To view a complete list of Emmy winners, click here.
As for the show itself, well... let's just say the person that made the most controversial comments on the show wasn't Kanye West (who appeared in a bit that was quite funny), but Sally Field, who called for an end to the war in Iraq. She was bleeped on the show, as was Ray Romano (now, that's a surprise...)
Ryan Seacrest wasn't bad, and for those of you who want to criticize him, remember Bryant Gumbel a couple of years ago?
At least the Emmy didn't have a distraction like the Academy Awards suffered earlier this year when some "major" celebrity died.
So how it do in the ratings? Second lowest rated Emmys ever, only beating the 1990 show, which was also aired on Fox (which at the time, was referred to as the "coat hanger network" - as in mostly UHF channels.)
updated 9:32pm
The Office also won an Emmy for Best Writing in a Comedy Series, while The Sopranos took home an Emmy for Best Writing in a Drama Series.
HBO led with 21 Emmys, while NBC had 19. The CW did not win any Emmys at all (were they even nominated?)
To view a complete list of Emmy winners, click here.
As for the show itself, well... let's just say the person that made the most controversial comments on the show wasn't Kanye West (who appeared in a bit that was quite funny), but Sally Field, who called for an end to the war in Iraq. She was bleeped on the show, as was Ray Romano (now, that's a surprise...)
Ryan Seacrest wasn't bad, and for those of you who want to criticize him, remember Bryant Gumbel a couple of years ago?
At least the Emmy didn't have a distraction like the Academy Awards suffered earlier this year when some "major" celebrity died.
So how it do in the ratings? Second lowest rated Emmys ever, only beating the 1990 show, which was also aired on Fox (which at the time, was referred to as the "coat hanger network" - as in mostly UHF channels.)
updated 9:32pm
Welcome to the second season
They said it wouldn't last...
They were WRONG.
We're back. And ready for more.
I'm Terence, your master of ceremonies, and welcome to the second season of The T Dog Media Blog. We're back, and ready to Rock the Casbah for season two.
This blog is targeted for media professionals, and we do a lot of serious stories in the business, and how they affect the industry, both locally and around the country.
But we also serve up some fun, too as many of our stories are offbeat reviews of the day's media stories, in television, radio, print, and the Internet. So, it's a 50/50 deal.
And yes, we do become quite opinionated on some of the posts, particularly when it comes to injustices, such as the unfair royalty fees that were being imposed of on webcasters and communist groups like the Parents Television Council, who are trying to impose their communist tastes on the viewing public. (See?)
And the Think Tanks are back too, but with a shorter name: From now on, they will be just known as T Dog's Think Tank. It is a serious thought piece written by yours truly, on major media issues.
There were no shortage of stories to cover last season. From Don Imus to Amy Jacobson, from Howard McGee's firing to Michael Richards, it was a wild ride. And this blog covered it all, thanks to hard working "staff" (which consists of me and... me.)
Yep, we developed quite an enemies list over the past year. We ripped the radio industry, the Sun-Times, Jay Mariotti, clueless network executives, the FCC, the RIAA, and numerous politicians. Yours truly has already been banned from posting on a few sites, including the Springfield Journal-Review and the Sun-Times. You think we're going to let up in our second season? Heck, naw!
But we made a lot of friends as well, and to them, I thank you.
And I also want to thank everyone who has stopped by in the past year to visit the blog. Your support is greatly appreciated. We will continue to improve the site to serve your interests.
Plus, feel free to comment on any story on this site, as long if its profanity-free and spam-free (if it's not, those comments will be deleted.)
And we are on Google! Type in "The T Dog Media Blog" in Google or Yahoo, and we will turn up.
So, without further to do, let's go to season two!
Sincerely,
Terence Henderson
Chairman of The T Dog Blog, Inc.
P.S. To inquire about job opportunities at the T Dog Media Blog, don't. We're owned by the Fiction Corp., and they don't do a lot of hiring...
They were WRONG.
We're back. And ready for more.
I'm Terence, your master of ceremonies, and welcome to the second season of The T Dog Media Blog. We're back, and ready to Rock the Casbah for season two.
This blog is targeted for media professionals, and we do a lot of serious stories in the business, and how they affect the industry, both locally and around the country.
But we also serve up some fun, too as many of our stories are offbeat reviews of the day's media stories, in television, radio, print, and the Internet. So, it's a 50/50 deal.
And yes, we do become quite opinionated on some of the posts, particularly when it comes to injustices, such as the unfair royalty fees that were being imposed of on webcasters and communist groups like the Parents Television Council, who are trying to impose their communist tastes on the viewing public. (See?)
And the Think Tanks are back too, but with a shorter name: From now on, they will be just known as T Dog's Think Tank. It is a serious thought piece written by yours truly, on major media issues.
There were no shortage of stories to cover last season. From Don Imus to Amy Jacobson, from Howard McGee's firing to Michael Richards, it was a wild ride. And this blog covered it all, thanks to hard working "staff" (which consists of me and... me.)
Yep, we developed quite an enemies list over the past year. We ripped the radio industry, the Sun-Times, Jay Mariotti, clueless network executives, the FCC, the RIAA, and numerous politicians. Yours truly has already been banned from posting on a few sites, including the Springfield Journal-Review and the Sun-Times. You think we're going to let up in our second season? Heck, naw!
But we made a lot of friends as well, and to them, I thank you.
And I also want to thank everyone who has stopped by in the past year to visit the blog. Your support is greatly appreciated. We will continue to improve the site to serve your interests.
Plus, feel free to comment on any story on this site, as long if its profanity-free and spam-free (if it's not, those comments will be deleted.)
And we are on Google! Type in "The T Dog Media Blog" in Google or Yahoo, and we will turn up.
So, without further to do, let's go to season two!
Sincerely,
Terence Henderson
Chairman of The T Dog Blog, Inc.
P.S. To inquire about job opportunities at the T Dog Media Blog, don't. We're owned by the Fiction Corp., and they don't do a lot of hiring...
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The season in review, Part II
Continuing our look back at the season that was....
Sam Zell wins Tribune auction (Apr. 2, 2007)
- The biggest media story in Chicago so far this year.
WLS-TV leader featured by Sun-Times (April 4, 2007)
- This post features The T Dog Media Blog Gold Club, a list of dominant local TV stations in their market, which includes WLS-TV in Chicago.
Let's Get into it. (Apr. 8, 2007)
- Let's not.
Is anyone really surprised? (Apr. 12, 2007)
- I wasn't, but a lot of people was.
Shut up already, Damn! (Apr. 12, 2007)
- The Imus controversy brings out the worse - and the mouth - in everybody.
Read This (Apr. 13, 2007)
- From Mark Roberts, who hits the nail right on the head...
Sniff 'n' S*** (May 3, 2007)
- My views on the state of the sitcom and the Blackhawks. At least there's some hope for one of them...
Grow Up, Chicago (May 19, 2007)
- And yes, we still act like a dysfunctional bunch of buffoons. No offense.
Bachelor's a hit again... Aw hell, naw! (May 22, 2007)
- Should we thank Hillary for this? So much for empowering women...
Howie Mandel heads back to daytime (June 11, 2007)
- A short bit on the history of syndicated game shows.
Mr. McMahon is dead. Dewey Defeated Truman, too (June 12, 2007)
- The dumbest wrestling angle of all time. Made worst when there was a real-life death in the WWE with tragic consequences.
Stupid is as Stupid does (Jun. 16, 2007)
- The top story on June 16, 2007 according to Channel 2's website: A baseball brawl at Wrigley Field. Slow news day?
Must Flee TV (Jun. 27, 2007)
- White Sox lose, viewers flee. Finally, something the CW and My Network TV can beat in the ratings that is not named the Blackhawks.
WTBS to become Peachtree TV (Jul. 1, 2007)
- A detailed history on WTBS and the future of the station, as it changes to WPCH-TV and splits from cable TBS.
NBC cutting originals on Fridays? (Jul. 5, 2007)
- Talking abut Friday night TV, where there hasn't been much to talk about lately.
The craziness ends here (Jul. 6, 2007)
- Howard McGee is axed at WGCI and Tom Joyner may be on his way out at WVAZ.
National Bingo Night to return? WTF? (Jul. 8, 2007)
- Ratings don't mean anything anymore. Do they? (If not, then cancel American Idol.)
What was she thinking? (Jul. 10, 2007)
- Amy Jacobson wasn't thinking. Neither was Channel 2. And Chicago journalism jumps the shark yet again.
Local media blows it again (Jul. 15, 2007)
- Another in our "blows it again" series...
Tom Snyder tributes (Jul. 31, 2007)
- A look back at the career of Tom Snyder.
The Viewer Alienation Plan (Aug. 8, 2007)
- Mostly applies to Channel 2, but you can slap that label to all TV news operations in town. Who watches this crap anymore?
Merv Griffin dies (Aug. 12, 2007)
- A true class act passes.
Twista fires back at Pflager (Aug. 15, 2007)
- And Chicago media hits yet another low point.
Get out of town, Harvey (Aug. 16, 2007)
- And Chicago media hits yet another low point. Did I just say that?
Is the off-network sitcom dead? (Aug. 20, 2007)
- Yes.
Nine FM's not an alternative (Sept. 1, 2007)
- And perhaps that's why the station has no ratings or no advertising.
Another Chicago message board shut (Sept. 6, 2007)
- Even Charlie Brown thought this post was a snooze...
The Cutout Classics:
- A Think Tank on Grey's Anatomy and the WWE called Blew the Limo, Capsized the Ferry, was posted on June 25 and pulled hours later after news on Chris Benoit and his family's death became public. The Think Tank was never reposted.
- A post about Joel Hollander destroying CBS Radio was deleted after I criticized Felicia Middlebrooks and somebody in the comments section roasted yours truly on it (my response was too awkward and decided just to blow the post up)
- A post on the Blackhawks was deleted because it contained too much salty language.
- A comment left on the B96 Summer Bash post was cut after the poster ripped yours truly and I told her where to go. To Philadelphia.
Sam Zell wins Tribune auction (Apr. 2, 2007)
- The biggest media story in Chicago so far this year.
WLS-TV leader featured by Sun-Times (April 4, 2007)
- This post features The T Dog Media Blog Gold Club, a list of dominant local TV stations in their market, which includes WLS-TV in Chicago.
Let's Get into it. (Apr. 8, 2007)
- Let's not.
Is anyone really surprised? (Apr. 12, 2007)
- I wasn't, but a lot of people was.
Shut up already, Damn! (Apr. 12, 2007)
- The Imus controversy brings out the worse - and the mouth - in everybody.
Read This (Apr. 13, 2007)
- From Mark Roberts, who hits the nail right on the head...
Sniff 'n' S*** (May 3, 2007)
- My views on the state of the sitcom and the Blackhawks. At least there's some hope for one of them...
Grow Up, Chicago (May 19, 2007)
- And yes, we still act like a dysfunctional bunch of buffoons. No offense.
Bachelor's a hit again... Aw hell, naw! (May 22, 2007)
- Should we thank Hillary for this? So much for empowering women...
Howie Mandel heads back to daytime (June 11, 2007)
- A short bit on the history of syndicated game shows.
Mr. McMahon is dead. Dewey Defeated Truman, too (June 12, 2007)
- The dumbest wrestling angle of all time. Made worst when there was a real-life death in the WWE with tragic consequences.
Stupid is as Stupid does (Jun. 16, 2007)
- The top story on June 16, 2007 according to Channel 2's website: A baseball brawl at Wrigley Field. Slow news day?
Must Flee TV (Jun. 27, 2007)
- White Sox lose, viewers flee. Finally, something the CW and My Network TV can beat in the ratings that is not named the Blackhawks.
WTBS to become Peachtree TV (Jul. 1, 2007)
- A detailed history on WTBS and the future of the station, as it changes to WPCH-TV and splits from cable TBS.
NBC cutting originals on Fridays? (Jul. 5, 2007)
- Talking abut Friday night TV, where there hasn't been much to talk about lately.
The craziness ends here (Jul. 6, 2007)
- Howard McGee is axed at WGCI and Tom Joyner may be on his way out at WVAZ.
National Bingo Night to return? WTF? (Jul. 8, 2007)
- Ratings don't mean anything anymore. Do they? (If not, then cancel American Idol.)
What was she thinking? (Jul. 10, 2007)
- Amy Jacobson wasn't thinking. Neither was Channel 2. And Chicago journalism jumps the shark yet again.
Local media blows it again (Jul. 15, 2007)
- Another in our "blows it again" series...
Tom Snyder tributes (Jul. 31, 2007)
- A look back at the career of Tom Snyder.
The Viewer Alienation Plan (Aug. 8, 2007)
- Mostly applies to Channel 2, but you can slap that label to all TV news operations in town. Who watches this crap anymore?
Merv Griffin dies (Aug. 12, 2007)
- A true class act passes.
Twista fires back at Pflager (Aug. 15, 2007)
- And Chicago media hits yet another low point.
Get out of town, Harvey (Aug. 16, 2007)
- And Chicago media hits yet another low point. Did I just say that?
Is the off-network sitcom dead? (Aug. 20, 2007)
- Yes.
Nine FM's not an alternative (Sept. 1, 2007)
- And perhaps that's why the station has no ratings or no advertising.
Another Chicago message board shut (Sept. 6, 2007)
- Even Charlie Brown thought this post was a snooze...
The Cutout Classics:
- A Think Tank on Grey's Anatomy and the WWE called Blew the Limo, Capsized the Ferry, was posted on June 25 and pulled hours later after news on Chris Benoit and his family's death became public. The Think Tank was never reposted.
- A post about Joel Hollander destroying CBS Radio was deleted after I criticized Felicia Middlebrooks and somebody in the comments section roasted yours truly on it (my response was too awkward and decided just to blow the post up)
- A post on the Blackhawks was deleted because it contained too much salty language.
- A comment left on the B96 Summer Bash post was cut after the poster ripped yours truly and I told her where to go. To Philadelphia.
The season in review, Part I
As we prepare to open season two of The T Dog Media Blog, let's take a look back at past posts from the first season, in two parts. Here is part one:
Welcome! (Sept. 18, 2006)
- We broke down and added Radio-Info to the sidebar, because it is a good source of radio and TV news - despite the nutballs that appear on the site. Couldn't find JamesMeeks.com, nor plan to.
- Yes, this blog is still a work in progress, and According to Jim is still around.
Deporable! (Oct. 6, 2006)
- A forerunner to The Think Tanks I would later write, I blasted WLUP management for firing Cara Carrievau because she blasted the radio business. Some people I guess don't like brutal honesty.
Google buys YouTube (Oct. 9, 2006)
- And the free ride ends...
No cable required (Oct. 26, 2006)
- Law & Order: CI is sold into broadcast syndication and I explain why stations typically shun off-network hours as daily strips.
Next thing you know... (Nov. 1, 2006)
- The first time I criticized the Parents Television Council, but referred to them as "Prick Tofu" and a word that will get you punched out by a female. Whoops. Quickly changed it to "Crud".
Ladies and Gentlemen: Your Canadiates for Governor (Nov. 3, 2006)
- And I still say we would have been better off than who we have in there now.
... and don't hit your ass out the door (Nov. 7, 2006)
- And the odd thing about it, Federline would land a gig on One Tree Hill. Man, Hollywood sucks (and yes, I was wrong on #6 and #7. But not on #8.)
The 2006 T Dog Blog Turkey Awards (Nov. 22, 2006)
- Classic.
NHL, Hawks, Broadcasters need to get with program (Nov. 28, 2006)
- The first T Dog Media Blog Think Tank.
Second Chances (Dec. 20, 2006)
- Read this and you can see why I did not include this in the groupings of other Think Tank posts on the sidebar. Not my best piece of work...
The Toilet Bowl 10, The Excellent 10 (Dec. 2006)
- The picks for best and worst of 2006 (as yes, Grey's Anatomy received an honorable mention from me. That is, until...)
Radio industry blows it again (Jan. 28, 2007)
- The "blows it again" phrase is commonly used around here...
Time's up, quack. Now get the hell off the stage. (Feb. 4, 2007)
- Dr. Keith Albow's show gets canned. Dr. Phil he wasn't.
Picture of the day (Feb. 12, 2007)
- The First Annual John Deere Tractor parade over the Eisenhower.
Idiot Fest 2007 (Feb. 13, 2007)
- It's about Donald Trump and wrestling, what else? (and yes, I swore here...)
Celebrity Comedian Smackdown (Feb. 15, 2007)
- Mr. UFC, Joe Rogan vs. Carlos Mencia (and yes, the link still works!)
It's official: Grey's Anatomy jumps the shark (Feb. 24, 2007)
- And the critics loved it! Credibility hit No. 1...
WFLD to launch 10 p.m. newscast (March 7, 2007)
- I explained why WFLD and other stations are expanding their newscasts (and yes, WGN did begin airing Family Guy at 10.)
No, we did not all turn gay (Mar. 14, 2007)
-The first (and only) T Dog Blog After Dark post explains further why guy's media choices are different than the gals...
You're on the clock (Mar. 30, 2007)
-Most inane idea we've ever tried at the blog. Talk about almost jumping the shark...
More coming up in Part Two!
Welcome! (Sept. 18, 2006)
- We broke down and added Radio-Info to the sidebar, because it is a good source of radio and TV news - despite the nutballs that appear on the site. Couldn't find JamesMeeks.com, nor plan to.
- Yes, this blog is still a work in progress, and According to Jim is still around.
Deporable! (Oct. 6, 2006)
- A forerunner to The Think Tanks I would later write, I blasted WLUP management for firing Cara Carrievau because she blasted the radio business. Some people I guess don't like brutal honesty.
Google buys YouTube (Oct. 9, 2006)
- And the free ride ends...
No cable required (Oct. 26, 2006)
- Law & Order: CI is sold into broadcast syndication and I explain why stations typically shun off-network hours as daily strips.
Next thing you know... (Nov. 1, 2006)
- The first time I criticized the Parents Television Council, but referred to them as "Prick Tofu" and a word that will get you punched out by a female. Whoops. Quickly changed it to "Crud".
Ladies and Gentlemen: Your Canadiates for Governor (Nov. 3, 2006)
- And I still say we would have been better off than who we have in there now.
... and don't hit your ass out the door (Nov. 7, 2006)
- And the odd thing about it, Federline would land a gig on One Tree Hill. Man, Hollywood sucks (and yes, I was wrong on #6 and #7. But not on #8.)
The 2006 T Dog Blog Turkey Awards (Nov. 22, 2006)
- Classic.
NHL, Hawks, Broadcasters need to get with program (Nov. 28, 2006)
- The first T Dog Media Blog Think Tank.
Second Chances (Dec. 20, 2006)
- Read this and you can see why I did not include this in the groupings of other Think Tank posts on the sidebar. Not my best piece of work...
The Toilet Bowl 10, The Excellent 10 (Dec. 2006)
- The picks for best and worst of 2006 (as yes, Grey's Anatomy received an honorable mention from me. That is, until...)
Radio industry blows it again (Jan. 28, 2007)
- The "blows it again" phrase is commonly used around here...
Time's up, quack. Now get the hell off the stage. (Feb. 4, 2007)
- Dr. Keith Albow's show gets canned. Dr. Phil he wasn't.
Picture of the day (Feb. 12, 2007)
- The First Annual John Deere Tractor parade over the Eisenhower.
Idiot Fest 2007 (Feb. 13, 2007)
- It's about Donald Trump and wrestling, what else? (and yes, I swore here...)
Celebrity Comedian Smackdown (Feb. 15, 2007)
- Mr. UFC, Joe Rogan vs. Carlos Mencia (and yes, the link still works!)
It's official: Grey's Anatomy jumps the shark (Feb. 24, 2007)
- And the critics loved it! Credibility hit No. 1...
WFLD to launch 10 p.m. newscast (March 7, 2007)
- I explained why WFLD and other stations are expanding their newscasts (and yes, WGN did begin airing Family Guy at 10.)
No, we did not all turn gay (Mar. 14, 2007)
-The first (and only) T Dog Blog After Dark post explains further why guy's media choices are different than the gals...
You're on the clock (Mar. 30, 2007)
-Most inane idea we've ever tried at the blog. Talk about almost jumping the shark...
More coming up in Part Two!
And remember, death is not an option...
Borrowing a line from Steve Rosenbloom's blog... Tonight's Emmys or Chargers-Patriots? Both right now make you seem thankful for 500 channels...
How to make it on a 1.0
How do you make money on a syndicated show that averages a 1.0 rating? Find new revenue streams, an interactive element (like home shopping), and a tried-and true format (like game shows and courtroom shows.)
The 1.0 rating cutoff for syndicated fare is quite low - in 2002, Pyramid was dropped with a 1.9. The bar was even higher way back in 1986, when the nighttime version of The Price is Right (with Tom Kennedy) went off the air with a 6.0 rating.
This comes as open time slots are harder to come by, thanks to the hold established shows have in the marketplace, not to mention the continuing expansion of local news in many markets (despite reports that some stations are giving up on 5 p.m. newscasts - they are just switching them to 7 p.m. - an ouch for syndicators.)
The 1.0 rating cutoff for syndicated fare is quite low - in 2002, Pyramid was dropped with a 1.9. The bar was even higher way back in 1986, when the nighttime version of The Price is Right (with Tom Kennedy) went off the air with a 6.0 rating.
This comes as open time slots are harder to come by, thanks to the hold established shows have in the marketplace, not to mention the continuing expansion of local news in many markets (despite reports that some stations are giving up on 5 p.m. newscasts - they are just switching them to 7 p.m. - an ouch for syndicators.)
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Critics have their say on the new fall shows
The nation's TV critics were polled, and they nominated Pushing Daises as their click to pick, while they pegged Cavemen as their pick to make them sick.
Friday, September 14, 2007
FCC waives rules for Decatur duopoly
The FCC has waived a duopoly rule in the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign market, allowing Gocom Media, owner of Fox affiliate WRSP-TV in Springfield, to buy CW affiliate WBUI-TV from Acme Communications in nearby Decatur.
One of the reasons for the waiver is because WBUI is a failing station in danger of going dark and a money loser, and the FCC generally makes those exemptions in this case. The FCC prevents duopolies in markets where allowing a owner to own two stations would not leave the market with eight independently owned stations in a market.
One of the reasons for the waiver is because WBUI is a failing station in danger of going dark and a money loser, and the FCC generally makes those exemptions in this case. The FCC prevents duopolies in markets where allowing a owner to own two stations would not leave the market with eight independently owned stations in a market.
TMZ on TV gets bad reviews
No surprise there, from the Chicago Tribune (is Steve Johnson an Internet critic or a TV critic this week?) and the Boston Globe. The TV version of TMZ is pretty much like a sitcom. And like most of today's sitcoms, the show isn't funny or entertaining.
"Family Guy" comes to town this weekend
Family Guy and American Dad creator Seth McFarlane, who is doing Family Guy Live at the Chicago Theater tomorrow night, is interviewed by both the Tribune and Sun-Times and talks about Family Guy (of course), the FCC, and South Park's recent zing (in "Cartoon Wars") at his show, and comparisons to The Simpsons.
Family Guy Live! is playing at the Chicago Theater for one night only with two shows - one at 7 and the other at 10. The cast features Alex Borstein (who grew up in Chicago), Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, and of course, Seth McFarlane.
-The season premiere of Family Guy is at 8 p.m. (CT) Sept. 23 on Fox (Tivo and VCR alert: The Bears are playing at the same time.)
-Family Guy also started its off-network run this week in syndication. The show runs Monday-Saturday at 6:30 and Sunday-Friday at 10 on WGN-TV.
-Family Guy: Volume 5 comes out this Tuesday on DVD.
-And yes, you can still catch Family Guy on cable on Adult Swim and TBS. Check your local listings for times as they do vary.
-Unfamiliar with Family Guy? The Tribune has a cliff notes' version.
WJBK, WDIV duke it out on Web
In this corner, it's Fox-owned WJBK-TV - in the other corner, it's Post-Newsweek's NBC affiliate WDIV - and they are boxing to see who will come out on top in the ultimate battle to become Detroit's ultimate website champion... (don't count out the spoiler, either - ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV.)
Both stations are upping the ante, including streaming their newscasts (WDIV streams its noon and 4 p.m. newscasts on the Web already, while WJBK plans to stream all of its newscasts online beginning with the debut of its 11 p.m. newscast on Sept. 24)
WJBK usually leads in the mornings, with WXYZ leading at 5 p.m. and WDIV leading at 11 p.m. The 6 p.m. race is a tight one with WDIV and WXYZ often in a very close race. CBS-owned WWJ-TV (say it with me, everybody) does not do news.
With her, You - Can - Go - All - The - Way!
Sun-Times relationship expert Laura Berman is joining B96's Eddie & JoBo & Erica morning show (scroll down) every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. to dispense advice (just be thankful it's Laura Berman doing this and not Chris Berman.)
Also on the contemporary-radio beat, a new night guy has landed at KISS (WKSC-FM) - Billy Hammond has landed the late night 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift at the Clear Channel station. Hammond's career included stints at sister station WHTZ-FM (Z100) in New York and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
New season in syndication: Day 3
For the three day-averages of the new first-run and off-network series in syndication, click here.
TMZ continues to lead the rookies in day three, but continues to be down from lead-in and year-ago time period.
Another new off-network show to tell you about, Reno 911!, averaged a 0.6/2, down 25 percent from year-ago time slots and lead-in (time periods are mostly in late fringe.)
And Media Life profiles Steve Wilkos in an article today (Oddville: it seems Wilkos tapes on the same set Jerry Springer does. Both shows are on against each other at 2 p.m. in Chicago.)
TMZ continues to lead the rookies in day three, but continues to be down from lead-in and year-ago time period.
Another new off-network show to tell you about, Reno 911!, averaged a 0.6/2, down 25 percent from year-ago time slots and lead-in (time periods are mostly in late fringe.)
And Media Life profiles Steve Wilkos in an article today (Oddville: it seems Wilkos tapes on the same set Jerry Springer does. Both shows are on against each other at 2 p.m. in Chicago.)
The incredibly shrinking Chicago Reader
The Chicago Reader, sold recently to Tampa-based Creative Loafing, is cutting the size of its free alternative weekly - and cutting back staff as well - they are asking its drivers to become independent contractors. This comes as the newspaper industry continues to struggle with declining revenues thanks to the move of classified ads to the internet portals like Craigslist, not to mention increased competition from Chicago Tribune's free RedEye and Time Out Chicago.
The printing of the paper is also changing presses from Chicago's Newsweb Corp. to the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel.
The printing of the paper is also changing presses from Chicago's Newsweb Corp. to the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel.
Poll: Americans hate TV more than ever
Man, if you thought radio was a dying medium... according to an AP poll, television is even more so.
Not only that, just 7 percent of respondents could name at least one new fall show.
I can hear the Prick Tofu Crud popping Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice corks now....
Not only that, just 7 percent of respondents could name at least one new fall show.
I can hear the Prick Tofu Crud popping Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice corks now....
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
VMAs draws 7.1 million
Up 23 percent from last year. At least we know now that Britney Spears' performance had a lot in common with the Bears' and Browns' performances on the same day - you know, that aroma you smell when somebody passes gas.
New season in syndication: Day 2
For results on the new first-run and off-network strips, click here.
To sum it all up, it may be curtains for Merv Griffin's Crosswords and Temptation sooner than we think, while I have one word about the ratings for the three new off-network sitcoms that debuted this week: disappointing.
To sum it all up, it may be curtains for Merv Griffin's Crosswords and Temptation sooner than we think, while I have one word about the ratings for the three new off-network sitcoms that debuted this week: disappointing.
Chances of XM, Sirius merger looks better
Make that much better. And it always helps to have Wall Street in your corner. Analysts are predicting that the XM/Sirius merger may go through as soon as next month, and it looks like the chances of the deal going though looks better than ever - inconceivable when it was announced last February.
The FCC however, said that it will review the merger as soon as the 180-day comment period by year's end. In order for the merger to go through the FCC and the Justice Department must approve the deal.
T Dog Media Blog Think Tank: Could XM/Sirius merger mean more consolidation?
The FCC however, said that it will review the merger as soon as the 180-day comment period by year's end. In order for the merger to go through the FCC and the Justice Department must approve the deal.
T Dog Media Blog Think Tank: Could XM/Sirius merger mean more consolidation?
Mancow sues Emmis and Q101
Erich "Mancow" Mueller has filed a lawsuit against Emmis Communications, his former employer who dismissed him last year as morning jock at the company's alternative rock station, WKQX-FM, or Q101.
The suit he filed was for $6 million dollars.
In the lawsuit, Mueller alleges that Emmis kept him from employing him on another radio station in the market (he nearly had a deal with Urban WPWX-FM); claimed that Q101 personalities made fun on the air and management made disparaging remarks about him; and sabotaged his efforts to lease studio space - he claims four handshake agreements fell though.
Check this out: A banner ad for his morning show on this industry web site claims that Mancow's program is still on in Chicago, even though it hasn't been on in this market for the past year (those numbers are dated from the Summer 2006 book.)
The suit he filed was for $6 million dollars.
In the lawsuit, Mueller alleges that Emmis kept him from employing him on another radio station in the market (he nearly had a deal with Urban WPWX-FM); claimed that Q101 personalities made fun on the air and management made disparaging remarks about him; and sabotaged his efforts to lease studio space - he claims four handshake agreements fell though.
Check this out: A banner ad for his morning show on this industry web site claims that Mancow's program is still on in Chicago, even though it hasn't been on in this market for the past year (those numbers are dated from the Summer 2006 book.)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tepid returns for new first-run and off-network strips (updated)
To no one's surprise, the five first-run strips that debuted yesterday got off to a mixed start, with only one (Steve Wilkos) up from its lead-in and all down from year-ago time period averages.
Here's a metered-market ratings rundown of the five new syndicated first-run strips from Monday:
Source: Nielsen Media Research, TV Week
Meanwhile, the battle of the two off-network series between Two and a Half Men and Family Guy went down like this: Two averaged a 2.0/4, flat from lead-in, but down 13 percent from year-ago time period averages. Family Guy averaged a 1.9/4, flat from year-ago time period, but down 5 percent from year-ago time slot. Family Guy's ratings for its debut in syndication was higher than those of South Park in 2005, but well below those of fellow animated series The Simpsons in 1994 and King of the Hill in 2001.
Results for another new off-network sitcom that debuted yesterday, The George Lopez Show, were not available. Half & Half does not begin until next Monday.
To read a syndication cuts list for Family Guy, click here.
To read a review of one of those new first-run strips, TMZ, click here.
Here's a metered-market ratings rundown of the five new syndicated first-run strips from Monday:
| Program | Rtg/Shr | Lead-in | 9/06 TP | Best performer |
| TMZ | 2.0/4 | 1.9/4 | 1.9/4 | St. Louis (KTVI): 5.2/10 at 10:30p |
| Steve Wilkos | 1.1/4 | 0.9/3 | 1.1/4 | Charlotte (WCCB): 3.3/11 at 2p |
| Crosswords | 1.0/3 | 1.2/3 | 1.3/4 | Tulsa (KJRH): 3.6/7 at 4p |
| David Young | 0.9/3 | 1.0/3 | 1.0/3 | Memphis (WLMT): 4.5/11 at 12:30a |
| Temptation | 0.7/2 | 0.8/3 | 1.1/3 | Dayton (WHIO): 2.9/11 at 1:30a |
Source: Nielsen Media Research, TV Week
Meanwhile, the battle of the two off-network series between Two and a Half Men and Family Guy went down like this: Two averaged a 2.0/4, flat from lead-in, but down 13 percent from year-ago time period averages. Family Guy averaged a 1.9/4, flat from year-ago time period, but down 5 percent from year-ago time slot. Family Guy's ratings for its debut in syndication was higher than those of South Park in 2005, but well below those of fellow animated series The Simpsons in 1994 and King of the Hill in 2001.
Results for another new off-network sitcom that debuted yesterday, The George Lopez Show, were not available. Half & Half does not begin until next Monday.
To read a syndication cuts list for Family Guy, click here.
To read a review of one of those new first-run strips, TMZ, click here.
Milwaukee TV schedule changes
For our friends north of the border, this week bring changes to TV schedules in Milwaukee, including Better TV, a new female-oriented lifestyle show airing on WTMJ at 3 p.m. Locally-oriented Morning Blend moving to 9 a.m. on the same station, Martha's move to WISN-TV at 11 a.m., a two-hour game show block n WMLW-LP in primetime, and WVTV slotting Judge David Young at noon, followed by an hour of Coach reruns. (Coach?)
Bob Costas makes humorous cameo on Fox NFL Sunday sketch
But NBC bosses were in the dark.
Come on, it wasn't that funny.... Mad TV's Frank Caliendo was in the sketch (okay, maybe it was... Costas knocks Caliendo on his ass...)
Come on, it wasn't that funny.... Mad TV's Frank Caliendo was in the sketch (okay, maybe it was... Costas knocks Caliendo on his ass...)
Doin' "The Barz"
Chicagoland Radio and Media titled a post "Dancin' With the Barz" (clever) on this Feder story, as Mike Barz from WFLD's Good Day, Chicago was doing some after-hours dirty dancing at a night club with a female staffer last Friday - and he actually won something - not a trophy, but a one-day time out from management.
And yes, The Barz is married with three kids.
And yes, The Barz is married with three kids.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Update to WCIU's fall schedule
Scroll down or click here to read post, with updated information on two shows (Becker, Girlfriends) that are no longer on the schedule (actually, it's information that I wrote on this blog before - this is WCIU's explanation of it...)
Oh yeah, I forgot. Happy belated birthday, My Network TV.
So did everybody else, it appears. But what you'd expect when not one show on this network - created by News Corp. after the WB and UPN merged - has been memorable? This story from B&C is about several My Network TV affiliates deciding to take matters into their own hands, as Meredith's KSMO in Kansas City decided to do. And it's paying off, with locally created shows by those stations attracting viewers - and advertisers - particularly those who can't afford to buy time on a big four station.
WPWR here, has wisely decided to do the same thing - by acquiring the rights to simulcast the Dec. 6 Bears-Redskins game from the NFL Network, and airing a few Northern Illinois football and Chicago Fire soccer games. For the last two years, WPWR has also aired IHSA high school football and basketball downstate tournaments, but no word if those will return to the station this season.
A website to check out: Here's an online example on how a My Network TV affiliate is promoting itself on the web: Raycom's WUAB-TV in Cleveland has My43.net, a My Space-like portal where people can post profiles, check out photo galleries, get info on nightlife, read and write blogs, and view videos. The site focuses heavily on local bands, where they can submit their material and listeners can download their mp3 for free (and without DRM, too!)
This is the best local TV website for a non-Big Four station (not affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox) in the country. Let's hope more stations (are you listening, Chicago?) take this novel approach WUAB has embarked upon.
WPWR here, has wisely decided to do the same thing - by acquiring the rights to simulcast the Dec. 6 Bears-Redskins game from the NFL Network, and airing a few Northern Illinois football and Chicago Fire soccer games. For the last two years, WPWR has also aired IHSA high school football and basketball downstate tournaments, but no word if those will return to the station this season.
A website to check out: Here's an online example on how a My Network TV affiliate is promoting itself on the web: Raycom's WUAB-TV in Cleveland has My43.net, a My Space-like portal where people can post profiles, check out photo galleries, get info on nightlife, read and write blogs, and view videos. The site focuses heavily on local bands, where they can submit their material and listeners can download their mp3 for free (and without DRM, too!)
This is the best local TV website for a non-Big Four station (not affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox) in the country. Let's hope more stations (are you listening, Chicago?) take this novel approach WUAB has embarked upon.
New syndicated season starts today
Five new shows debut today, including the highly anticipated game show Merv Griffin's Crosswords and magazine TMZ . Other new shows include Temptation, Judge David Young, and The Steve Wilkos Show (which debuts in Chicago on WGN tomorrow at 2 p.m. A Cardinals-Cubs game is airing in that time slot today.)
Don't forget, the debut of two new off-network sitcoms as well - Two and a Half Men and Family Guy.
Merv Griffin's Crosswords, produced by the late Merv Griffin and syndicated by Program Partners, has key time afternoon periods on five NBC O&O's, including 4 p.m. on WNBC in New York and 2 p.m. on WMAQ in Chicago (Read a review of Crosswords here.)
Meanwhile, TMZ has nailed a hat trick of 6:30 p.m. slots on Fox O&O's WNYW in New York, KTTV in Los Angeles and WPWR in Chicago.
Don't forget, the debut of two new off-network sitcoms as well - Two and a Half Men and Family Guy.
Merv Griffin's Crosswords, produced by the late Merv Griffin and syndicated by Program Partners, has key time afternoon periods on five NBC O&O's, including 4 p.m. on WNBC in New York and 2 p.m. on WMAQ in Chicago (Read a review of Crosswords here.)
Meanwhile, TMZ has nailed a hat trick of 6:30 p.m. slots on Fox O&O's WNYW in New York, KTTV in Los Angeles and WPWR in Chicago.
Former WBBM boss Applegate profiled
The Cleveland Plain Dealer profiled former WBBM-TV boss Bill Applegate last week at his latest venue as GM of beleaguered CBS affiliate WOIO-TV and My Network TV affiliate WUAB-TV, both owned by Raycom Media. Like WBBM, WOIO has struggled in the news ratings (placing fourth) and has credibility issues (such as news anchor Sharon Reed posing nude for a report on the station.) The interview also features Rob Feder of the Sun-Times, reminiscing on Applegate's days back at 'BBM.
WOIO and Applegate haven't made many friends in Cleveland, particularly with City Hall and the Cleveland Browns, who lost the rights to pre-season football games to NBC affiliate WKYC-TV after several controversial news reports.
The station, however, is starting to turn some corners. Recently, WOIO hosted an one-hour special to address the city's escalating homicide rate hosted by Ms. Reed titled "Taking Back Our Streets". The town-hall setting featured community leaders and city residents trying to find solutions to stem the growing tide of violence in Cleveland this summer.
WOIO and WUAB occupy the bottom rung of Cleveland TV stations ratings-wise. The duopoly is often accused of leasing too many time slots out to paid programming, or infomercials. WUAB, a former UPN affiliate, passed on the CW affiliation mainly because it did not want to pay "reverse compensation", or pay the CW, to hook up with them - plus, WUAB did not want to give up the 3-5 p.m. weekday time slots to the network to air reruns (The CW went to WBNX-TV instead.)
WOIO on UHF Channel 19, became a CBS affiliate on September 3, 1994 after losing its Fox affiliation to top-rated WJW-TV (Channel 8) in the New World-Fox affiliation deal. That deal saw twelve stations then owned by New World Communications - eight of them CBS affiliates - switch to Fox. Cleveland was the first market to switch.
WOIO and Applegate haven't made many friends in Cleveland, particularly with City Hall and the Cleveland Browns, who lost the rights to pre-season football games to NBC affiliate WKYC-TV after several controversial news reports.
The station, however, is starting to turn some corners. Recently, WOIO hosted an one-hour special to address the city's escalating homicide rate hosted by Ms. Reed titled "Taking Back Our Streets". The town-hall setting featured community leaders and city residents trying to find solutions to stem the growing tide of violence in Cleveland this summer.
WOIO and WUAB occupy the bottom rung of Cleveland TV stations ratings-wise. The duopoly is often accused of leasing too many time slots out to paid programming, or infomercials. WUAB, a former UPN affiliate, passed on the CW affiliation mainly because it did not want to pay "reverse compensation", or pay the CW, to hook up with them - plus, WUAB did not want to give up the 3-5 p.m. weekday time slots to the network to air reruns (The CW went to WBNX-TV instead.)
WOIO on UHF Channel 19, became a CBS affiliate on September 3, 1994 after losing its Fox affiliation to top-rated WJW-TV (Channel 8) in the New World-Fox affiliation deal. That deal saw twelve stations then owned by New World Communications - eight of them CBS affiliates - switch to Fox. Cleveland was the first market to switch.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
What a day in Chicago sports
The Bears lose, the Cubs fall out of first place, and the White Sox lose as usual. Right now, these three teams make any of the new fall shows look good by comparison. If these three were TV shows, they all would be gone after the first episode.
Anyone who watched Anchorwoman sure were lucky. Unlike these three, they didn't have to suffer through a second episode.
Anyone who watched Anchorwoman sure were lucky. Unlike these three, they didn't have to suffer through a second episode.
Welcome to the NFL season!
And as a public service, every Friday, we'll post NFL distribution maps, courtesy of J.P. Kirby's the506.com, to find the regional Sunday afternoon game in your area. Click to see Week 1's regional TV schedules:
Single game: CBS - Early games (no late games because of U.S. Open Men's Tennis Finals)
Doubleheader - Fox Early games Late games
Single game: CBS - Early games (no late games because of U.S. Open Men's Tennis Finals)
Doubleheader - Fox Early games Late games
Friday, September 07, 2007
A suggestion: Move Katie to 7:30/6:30 Central
Brain Steinberg of Ad Age reviews The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and makes a couple of suggestions, including moving the beleaguered network newscast to the 7:30 Eastern (6:30 Chicago Time) prime access time slot.
One problem with that - actually two: The affiliates won't go for it, because they would lose that lucrative ad revenue in the hour before prime time. Second, the shows in those prime access time slots on some CBS-owned stations - namely The Insider and Entertainment Tonight (which airs at 6:30 on CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2) - are owned by CBS.
One problem with that - actually two: The affiliates won't go for it, because they would lose that lucrative ad revenue in the hour before prime time. Second, the shows in those prime access time slots on some CBS-owned stations - namely The Insider and Entertainment Tonight (which airs at 6:30 on CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2) - are owned by CBS.
TMZ, CTV get the hook-up
The entertainment website TMZ and Warner Bros. International Television, has struck a deal with Canadian broadcaster CTV to provide the network with multiplatform content, including exclusive TMZ-branded material to air on CTV's Star! entertainment cable network and CTV.ca.
The deal is effective Sept. 10, the same day TMZ is launching in first-run syndication in the United States by Warner. CTV will air its own version called Scoop: TMZ.
This comes as CanWest Global is relaunching its CH over-the-air channels (including flagship CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario - which is re-branded locally as CHCH News) as E! in a deal with Comcast's E! networks, effective today.
The deal is effective Sept. 10, the same day TMZ is launching in first-run syndication in the United States by Warner. CTV will air its own version called Scoop: TMZ.
This comes as CanWest Global is relaunching its CH over-the-air channels (including flagship CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario - which is re-branded locally as CHCH News) as E! in a deal with Comcast's E! networks, effective today.
Cubs dominate the ratings
This summer's reality shows are taking a back seat to the ultimate reality show: The Cubs chase for the National League's Central Division Championship.
Wednesday night's Dodgers-Cubs game was the highest rated program in prime-time and the entire broadcast day in Chicago, according to Nielsen with a whopping 11 rating and 19 share (second item. Yeah, there's a first item, but it's pointless given the White Sox is out of the pennant race and the games are getting CW and My Network TV-like numbers.)
Most of this summer's reality TV shows have bombed in the ratings, and certainly to this White Sox fan, even the Cubs are more appealing than this junk. Fat March, anyone?
Wednesday night's Dodgers-Cubs game was the highest rated program in prime-time and the entire broadcast day in Chicago, according to Nielsen with a whopping 11 rating and 19 share (second item. Yeah, there's a first item, but it's pointless given the White Sox is out of the pennant race and the games are getting CW and My Network TV-like numbers.)
Most of this summer's reality TV shows have bombed in the ratings, and certainly to this White Sox fan, even the Cubs are more appealing than this junk. Fat March, anyone?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
WPWR gets more movies for weekends
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution announced a deal with ten Fox-owned My Network TV affiliates, including WPWR-TV in Chicago, for their new 35-title movie package. It was also sold to 123 other markets, bringing the clearance rate to 90 percent of the U.S.
Titles include Batman Begins, March of the Penguins, Million Dollar Baby, Ocean's Twelve, and two Harry Potter movies.
Titles include Batman Begins, March of the Penguins, Million Dollar Baby, Ocean's Twelve, and two Harry Potter movies.
Echostar to carry Big Ten Network
Now on to some real news... In a move that brings rejoice to Big Ten fans (and makes cable look bad), Echostar's Dish Network has struck a deal with the Big Ten Network to carry its collegiate regional sports network on its basic service. The channel will also be carried in HD.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Time to do the "Chicago Huddle"
A new local TV show is debuting this weekend on ABC affiliate WLS-TV. Starting this Saturday night, the station will air a new sports-variety show called Chicago Huddle, which is being taped at ESPN Zone in Chicago's River North area.
The program will air Saturday nights after the station's late news, at 11:05 p.m. (time approximate.)
WLS-TV, ABC, and ESPN are owned by the Walt Disney Corp.
The program is hosted by WLS' sports reporter Ryan Chiaverini and will feature a different member of the Chicago Bears as a co-host every week, and members from Second City will offer comedy segments.
The program will air Saturday nights after the station's late news, at 11:05 p.m. (time approximate.)
WLS-TV, ABC, and ESPN are owned by the Walt Disney Corp.
The program is hosted by WLS' sports reporter Ryan Chiaverini and will feature a different member of the Chicago Bears as a co-host every week, and members from Second City will offer comedy segments.
Chicago drops to third place in total number of black homes in the U.S.
But Chicago remains in fifth place in Hispanic and Asian homes
Nielsen announced its top ten markets ranked by minority TV homes, and Chicago is now the third-largest African-American market in the U.S. , going from 598, 370 homes to 599,620 homes. It was surpassed though, by Atlanta which surged from 597,070 to 634,820 to claim second place. New York remains in first, of course with 1.2 million homes.
Among the total number of Hispanic homes in the U.S., Chicago remained in fifth place with 487,590. Los Angeles is first with 1.25 million. Chicago was also fifth in the total number of Asian homes with 171,060.
To access the top ten list of markets with the most minority homes (and for more information), click here.
Nielsen announced its top ten markets ranked by minority TV homes, and Chicago is now the third-largest African-American market in the U.S. , going from 598, 370 homes to 599,620 homes. It was surpassed though, by Atlanta which surged from 597,070 to 634,820 to claim second place. New York remains in first, of course with 1.2 million homes.
Among the total number of Hispanic homes in the U.S., Chicago remained in fifth place with 487,590. Los Angeles is first with 1.25 million. Chicago was also fifth in the total number of Asian homes with 171,060.
To access the top ten list of markets with the most minority homes (and for more information), click here.
Roll your eyes
And look at another useless television study from an useless right-wing organization, The Prick Tofu Crud. They know many homes have cable or a dish, right? Too bad they were busy spewing this crap to notice that there were fifteen or so murders in Chicago over the Labor Day Weekend (and maybe more in New York City- a teen was gunned down in the subway in Queens on Monday.) To the PTC, protecting the children only applies if you live in the "right" area of the country and you're not a minority... (yeah, I went there.)
Unbox with NBC and Amazon
NBC Universal and Amazon have come to an agreement to sell the company's TV shows through Amazon's Unbox service. This comes after NBC announced on Friday that it was dropping iTunes at the end of the calendar year, in which a few hours later, Apple announced it wasn't carrying any of the network's fall shows.
Pricing for the episodes of popular NBC shows including The Office, Heroes, and new shows Bionic Woman and Chuck, will cost $1.99 an episode - the same price iTunes offered for its downloads of NBC fare. Season passes will also be available. There were reports that NBC wanted Apple to sell episodes for $4.99 each.
Unbox will also offer fare from NBC's cable networks including Battlestar Galcatica and Monk.
Pricing for the episodes of popular NBC shows including The Office, Heroes, and new shows Bionic Woman and Chuck, will cost $1.99 an episode - the same price iTunes offered for its downloads of NBC fare. Season passes will also be available. There were reports that NBC wanted Apple to sell episodes for $4.99 each.
Unbox will also offer fare from NBC's cable networks including Battlestar Galcatica and Monk.
Boston bloggers
Another day, another Boston TV story. Tomorrow, Red Sox pennant coverage!
Seriously, there are bloggers in the nation's seventh-largest market who dissect every detail about their TV stations - from ratings to news content to news anchor moves. This Boston Globe story (registration may be required) details the way bloggers update their sites on a daily basis.
Most local newscasts are targeted to the 25-54 crowd. But the people blogging about the newscasts are actually young males in their 20's - a group who are normally not considered news viewers. These guys watch every newscast, and they do their homework very well (and yes, some station managers even read their sites.)
Seriously, there are bloggers in the nation's seventh-largest market who dissect every detail about their TV stations - from ratings to news content to news anchor moves. This Boston Globe story (registration may be required) details the way bloggers update their sites on a daily basis.
Most local newscasts are targeted to the 25-54 crowd. But the people blogging about the newscasts are actually young males in their 20's - a group who are normally not considered news viewers. These guys watch every newscast, and they do their homework very well (and yes, some station managers even read their sites.)
Bill Rancic to host new talk show set in Chicago
Apprentice winner and Orland Park native Bill Rancic will co-host In the Loop with iVillage, a reincarnated version of iVillageLive, a show that aired on the NBC O&O's from Universal Studios in Orlando and flopped with viewers. The new version of the program will air live weekdays at 11 a.m. (CT) on WMAQ-TV here in Chicago from the NBC Tower.
Also joining the fun will be actress Kim Coles (In Living Color) and fellow Apprentice contestant Ereka Ventrini, who appeared with Rancic on the show's first season (along with another contestant named Omarasa, who was briefly considered for a talk show from Jerry Springer producer Richard Dominick. Thankfully, they went with Steve Wilkos.)
Ventrini was the announcer and sidekick on the now-defunct Tony Danza Show during that show's first season (2004-05).
The NBC Tower has been busy of late with TV production. In addition to iVillage, Steve Wilkos, and Jerry Springer, the NBC Tower is also home to Judge Mathis. Past shows shot at the studio include Jenny Jones and Kwik Witz.
Meanwhile, Rancic was married over the weekend in Italy to E! reporter Giuliana DePandi.
Also joining the fun will be actress Kim Coles (In Living Color) and fellow Apprentice contestant Ereka Ventrini, who appeared with Rancic on the show's first season (along with another contestant named Omarasa, who was briefly considered for a talk show from Jerry Springer producer Richard Dominick. Thankfully, they went with Steve Wilkos.)
Ventrini was the announcer and sidekick on the now-defunct Tony Danza Show during that show's first season (2004-05).
The NBC Tower has been busy of late with TV production. In addition to iVillage, Steve Wilkos, and Jerry Springer, the NBC Tower is also home to Judge Mathis. Past shows shot at the studio include Jenny Jones and Kwik Witz.
Meanwhile, Rancic was married over the weekend in Italy to E! reporter Giuliana DePandi.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
WCIU's fall schedule
Weigel-owned independent WCIU is out with its fall schedule. To see it, click here (Adobe Acrobat required.) Pretty stable schedule, particularly in daytime....
Notables:
-Jury Duty, a new syndicated courtroom show (yeah, we need another one of those) with C-list celebrities serving as jurors, airs at 9 a.m., beginning Sept. 17.
-CBS Television Distribution's Half & Half, a former UPN sitcom starring Essence Atkins and Rachel True, airs weekdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., also beginning on the 17th.
-Warner's Fresh Prince returns to WCIU at 11:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 10.
Also, Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed moves to 12:30a.m., also on the 10th.
-As noted before, Warner's George Lopez will premiere on the 10th at 6 and 10:30 p.m.
- CBS' Becker and Girlfriends are out at WCIU, because the contracts of those two sitcoms were not renewed in broadcast syndication. Also out is weird courtroom show Eye for an Eye, which aired at 2:30 a.m.
-On to the weekends: UFC Wired, featuring stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, airs Saturday nights at 12:01a and again Sunday morning at 4:00a.m. In a rather odd move, WPWR was the only Fox-owned My Network TV affiliate not to pick up this show. UFC Wired is hosted by Joe Rogan (and no, there will be no appearances by arch rival Carlos Mencia, where if he did show up, they would definitely go at it in the ring.)
-Know Your Heritage, a teen-oriented quiz show, moves to WCIU, airing Sundays at 11a.m. The program. produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions, previously aired on WPWR on Saturday mornings.
- In an odd scheduling quirk, reruns of the original Twilight Zone air on WCIU at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, between The Insider and The Bernie Mac Show.
Notables:
-Jury Duty, a new syndicated courtroom show (yeah, we need another one of those) with C-list celebrities serving as jurors, airs at 9 a.m., beginning Sept. 17.
-CBS Television Distribution's Half & Half, a former UPN sitcom starring Essence Atkins and Rachel True, airs weekdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., also beginning on the 17th.
-Warner's Fresh Prince returns to WCIU at 11:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 10.
Also, Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed moves to 12:30a.m., also on the 10th.
-As noted before, Warner's George Lopez will premiere on the 10th at 6 and 10:30 p.m.
- CBS' Becker and Girlfriends are out at WCIU, because the contracts of those two sitcoms were not renewed in broadcast syndication. Also out is weird courtroom show Eye for an Eye, which aired at 2:30 a.m.
-On to the weekends: UFC Wired, featuring stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, airs Saturday nights at 12:01a and again Sunday morning at 4:00a.m. In a rather odd move, WPWR was the only Fox-owned My Network TV affiliate not to pick up this show. UFC Wired is hosted by Joe Rogan (and no, there will be no appearances by arch rival Carlos Mencia, where if he did show up, they would definitely go at it in the ring.)
-Know Your Heritage, a teen-oriented quiz show, moves to WCIU, airing Sundays at 11a.m. The program. produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions, previously aired on WPWR on Saturday mornings.
- In an odd scheduling quirk, reruns of the original Twilight Zone air on WCIU at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, between The Insider and The Bernie Mac Show.
WPWR's fall schedule
We're gonna turn it on... we're gonna turn on the power... at Fox-owned WPWR this fall. But the power's been off for a few years now at the station. Like other big-market MNT affiliates (WWOR and KCOP in N.Y. and L.A., respectively), WPWR has performed poorly, often placing last in total-day ratings among Chicago's English and Spanish commercial TV stations. Among the changes at the My Network TV affiliate:
-NBC Universal's off-network run of Law & Order: Criminal Intent got a better time slot than expected, landing at 10 p.m., effective Sept. 17The second run of Scrubs moves to 11:30 p.m.
- Also on the 17th, syndicated repeats of King of the Hill move back to sister station WFLD-TV at 4 and 4:30 p.m., the same time slots it held from 2002 to 2004 (it never should have moved to WPWR to begin with.)
- That '70's Show moves from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. It replaces the second run of Still Standing, which moves to 9:30 p.m. (That '70's Show moves to WCIU next year.)
- As noted before, Warner's new syndicated magazine TMZ airs at 6:30 p.m. on WPWR (and at 11:35 on WFLD) while MGM's off-cable Reno 911! airs at 11 p.m. and at midnight. Both shows debut Sept. 10.
- New to daytime are the 700 Club at 8 a.m. and Cristina's Court at 9 a.m.
- On weekends, WPWR is airing two Canadian dramas from Program Partners: ReGenesis, a sci-fi show (be sure to check this one out - the concept sounds very cool) airing Saturdays at 9 p.m. and Sundays at 11 p.m., and Stone Undercover (a lame Rockford Files clone that aired as Tom Stone a few years back on the CBC for 26 episodes) airing Sundays at 9 p.m. Undercover previously ran late-night Saturdays (Sunday morning) on ABC-owned WLS-TV. Those moves are effective Sept. 15.
- On a related note, WLS has acquired Davinci's Inquest from Program Partners to replace Stone Undercover. DaVinci's previously aired at 1:30 a.m. Mondays on Tribune-owned WGN-TV. Episodes of DaVinci's City Hall, the failed spin-off of Inquest, are expected to run under the DaVinci's Inquest title sometime this fall.
-NBC Universal's off-network run of Law & Order: Criminal Intent got a better time slot than expected, landing at 10 p.m., effective Sept. 17The second run of Scrubs moves to 11:30 p.m.
- Also on the 17th, syndicated repeats of King of the Hill move back to sister station WFLD-TV at 4 and 4:30 p.m., the same time slots it held from 2002 to 2004 (it never should have moved to WPWR to begin with.)
- That '70's Show moves from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. It replaces the second run of Still Standing, which moves to 9:30 p.m. (That '70's Show moves to WCIU next year.)
- As noted before, Warner's new syndicated magazine TMZ airs at 6:30 p.m. on WPWR (and at 11:35 on WFLD) while MGM's off-cable Reno 911! airs at 11 p.m. and at midnight. Both shows debut Sept. 10.
- New to daytime are the 700 Club at 8 a.m. and Cristina's Court at 9 a.m.
- On weekends, WPWR is airing two Canadian dramas from Program Partners: ReGenesis, a sci-fi show (be sure to check this one out - the concept sounds very cool) airing Saturdays at 9 p.m. and Sundays at 11 p.m., and Stone Undercover (a lame Rockford Files clone that aired as Tom Stone a few years back on the CBC for 26 episodes) airing Sundays at 9 p.m. Undercover previously ran late-night Saturdays (Sunday morning) on ABC-owned WLS-TV. Those moves are effective Sept. 15.
- On a related note, WLS has acquired Davinci's Inquest from Program Partners to replace Stone Undercover. DaVinci's previously aired at 1:30 a.m. Mondays on Tribune-owned WGN-TV. Episodes of DaVinci's City Hall, the failed spin-off of Inquest, are expected to run under the DaVinci's Inquest title sometime this fall.
FCC to hold Chicago hearings - at Operation PUSH
In a surprise move, the planned media-ownership hearings in Chicago won't be held in the Loop at Columbia College or Roosevelt University - but at Operation PUSH here on the South Side. The hearings will start at 4 p.m. and last until 11 p.m.
Operation PUSH's headquarters are located in the Kenwood neighborhood at 930 East 50th Street near Washington Park. The facility is just a little northwest of Hyde Park and about a mile from the University of Chicago. You can click here for a map.
TV Week: FCC Pushes Chicago Media Ownership Hearing to Jackson Group's HQ
Operation PUSH's headquarters are located in the Kenwood neighborhood at 930 East 50th Street near Washington Park. The facility is just a little northwest of Hyde Park and about a mile from the University of Chicago. You can click here for a map.
TV Week: FCC Pushes Chicago Media Ownership Hearing to Jackson Group's HQ
Advertisers pass on "Kid Nation"
Several blue-chip advertisers are passing on Kid Nation, the controversial Lord of the Files-type reality show where kids 8-to-15 years old build and run their own town without the help of any adults. Among the advertisers skipping the show are Procter & Gamble, Ford Motor Co., and Anheuser-Busch (obviously.)
The program has been dogged for weeks with allegations of child-labor laws being broken and parents who were upset over the way their children were treated on the show.
CBS declined to release a list of advertisers on Kid Nation, but with so many blue-chip advertisers avoiding the show, one could wonder if the ads will consist of Cancer Treatment Centers of America commercials, the one where Alex Trebek pitches life insurance, and whoever makes those Hoveraround Chairs.
The program has been dogged for weeks with allegations of child-labor laws being broken and parents who were upset over the way their children were treated on the show.
CBS declined to release a list of advertisers on Kid Nation, but with so many blue-chip advertisers avoiding the show, one could wonder if the ads will consist of Cancer Treatment Centers of America commercials, the one where Alex Trebek pitches life insurance, and whoever makes those Hoveraround Chairs.
WHDH's turnaround
Once a laughingstock in the Boston news race (and the channel that had the dubious distinction of losing its FCC license - twice), NBC affiliate WHDH-TV (Channel 7) is one of the network's best performing stations. Now meet the person who keeps the station at the top at 11 p.m. (who needs an NBC lead-in, anyway?) and very competitive with ABC affiliate WCVB-TV the rest of the day - 39 year-old general manager Randi Goldklank. She also runs sister station WLVI-TV, the market's CW affiliate.
For the record, WHDH became an NBC affiliate on January 2, 1995 after it lost its CBS affiliation to WBZ-TV after then-owner Westinghouse Broadcasting made an affiliate deal with all five of its stations. WBZ was an NBC affiliate for 47 years.
For the record, WHDH became an NBC affiliate on January 2, 1995 after it lost its CBS affiliation to WBZ-TV after then-owner Westinghouse Broadcasting made an affiliate deal with all five of its stations. WBZ was an NBC affiliate for 47 years.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
T Dog Media Think Tank: Nine-FM's not an alternative
Yours truly remembers two years ago when Nine-FM - the triplecast of WDEK, WKIE, and WRZA - ran promos that stated "Give corporate radio the finger."
But today, it seems that a corporate radio-like atmosphere has taken over Nine-FM - and it's not owned by one of the big radio chains.
It's a issue that's being debated hotly on Chicago radio message boards (don't be surprised - stations that get no ratings often are talked about the most on these boards) on what direction Nine-FM seems to be going.
At first, the station was a breath of fresh air. All right, somewhat of a breath of fresh air. You can go from The Goo Goo Dolls into Kanye West or Stevie Wonder into Nickelback with ease. The station went by its slogan: "We Play Anything."
Now, that's not the case. The station musically is a mess. The station sounds like a poor man's Jack-FM as a clone of WTMX with a weak signal. And the playlists suck. Like, how many times you can hear "The Great Escape" and any Kelly Clarkson song in a given day?
They recently introduced another slogan - "It's mostly upbeat music". Uh, excuse me geniuses, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of "We Play Anything"? Why are they using a slogan similar to those of WLIT and Love FM?
Now the station is airing a brokered show called "Dance Factory"- which once aired weekly on Saturday Nights - is now airing seven nights a week - potentially alienating the older 25-54 audience that listens to the station earlier the day (I love dance music, but not this show, and especially not seven nights a week.)
And here comes the latest genius idea. Nine is airing high-school football games on Friday nights.
High school football? What state are we living in, Texas?
Nothing wrong with airing such fare, but its best left to a low-power AM or community station, not on one with broad area coverage on three signal-strained stations that plays music. (there are pro teams that air games on FM music stations in other cities, but that's different.) Will anyone in Crete or Morton Grove care about two Naperville high schools playing one another? If you are going to stop music to air some HS football game, or some other distraction, it's basically an open invitation to turn the dial, or better yet, fire up the iPod or Internet radio. You risk losing your audience. (You're probably saying about Nine - what audience?)
When Sky Daniels was in charge, the station played more variety, breaking music before the major stations, playing deep cuts, obscure songs, and more. But the problems began after Daniels left for personal reasons. The station later saw an exodus of talent, including morning personality Joey Fortman and Chicago radio veteran Johnny Mars. And just yesterday, PD and afternoon personality Matt DuBiel left the station for a better position (and better pay) at classic rocker WERV-FM (The River) in Aurora.
The situation is dire. Nine now has no viable morning show, no national advertising, a crappy Internet stream, a bland website, and it seems to have no purpose or direction whatsoever. There are only two discjockeys on the entire payroll, with the rest of the station either voicetracked or automated.
If the small guys in this market want to get noticed, they have to be different from them, not walk like, talk alike. Do something that will have people talking about them on message boards in a positive manner, to get the audience to tune in. This is not what Nine is doing right now. Judging by their execution, Nine is not that different from the corporate radio stations out there in Chicago.
Big radio chains aren't the only ones immune to bad decisions made by management who thinks they know how to serve the public interest. That's the problem with radio right there. They don't know - or care - how to serve an audience (Like the big guys.) Nine's GM used to work at a CBS-owned radio station here in Chicago. Enough said. Around here, the small frys have the same mindset as the big guys.
Let's face it. The "We Play Anything" mantra is so 2005, like the Chicago White Sox. Both have stumbled and fallen on their faces since, although the White Sox arguably has had more success that year than Nine had. It's the same old same old - safe playlists, voicetracking, brokered programming - why am I listening to this when I can listen to the big, corporate-owned sticks to hear the same thing?
If you think the listeners are not impressed, the advertisers are less so. Many national and local advertisers stay away because the audience is too small and the signals are crap. The sales team should do a better job of selling the station, despite the problems. There's no excuse. In the position they are in, the sales team should be hungrier and more aggressive.
And of course, the job is made even harder by how the breaks are split up. The ad breaks are only a minute. That's nice, but there are five or six an hour. So much for ten in a row. Or even five in a row. All it does is create more clutter, which advertisers hate.
Nine told its listeners to give corporate radio the finger. Well, to the sixteen listeners they have left, it may be time for them to give Nine the finger, since they basically went from fresh alternative to the same old everyday stuff. Just like the corporate-owned big radio chains.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)